Tag Archives: self-development

No matter how hard things get, it is important we remind ourselves of the blessings we have been bestowed with.

We all have our good days when we feel invincible. Everything goes just right and it seems as if there is not an ounce of misery in the world. And then there are days when no matter how hard you try, everything just seems to go wrong. It does not matter how much you try to convince yourself, there is a sinking feeling in your stomach that just won’t go away and you feel as if you are trapped in your life.

On these days, it is hard to get out of bed and face the world. No matter how hard things get, it is important we remind ourselves of the blessings we have been bestowed with. Here are a few simple things you can be grateful for when you are feeling low and down;

You Woke Up This Morning

Each new day means new opportunities and endless possibilities. Be grateful you woke up this morning and that you are alive. You still have the chance to turn things around and make the best of your life. Be grateful that you are alive and healthy. There is so much life has to offer. You just need to be able to see it.

You Have People Who Care About You

When things get rough, remember your friends and family. Do you have a loving mother who stays up late when you do not make it home on time or a friend who always has your back? The love you feel from the people around you is indeed a blessing. Seek help from those who are close to you. Their support will guide you through the darkest times and you will be able to push yourself to be the best you can be.

You Are Able To Enjoy the Little Pleasure of Life

Have you ever taken the time to notice the beauty that surrounds you? Be thankful for all the simple pleasure life offers. The calm weather, the beautiful sunrise, or the laughter of a friend, these are all simple pleasures in life you can be grateful for.

The Challenges You Have Encountered

Life is filled with challenges and every day we find ourselves dealing with a new struggle. Be grateful for all the battles you have won and all the challenges you have encountered. All these setbacks are what have made you who you are today.

Being Able To Access the Internet

You are reading this just because you have access to the internet. The internet has revolutionized our world. You no longer have to join classes or visit the library to read books. All the information you need is a few clicks from you. Be thankful you have access to the internet as it allows you to connect with people who are far and wide. You can learn pretty much anything online. The next time you are feeling low, teach yourself a new skill or better yet, start a blog so you can share your thoughts with the whole world.

Just as we wish to remove toxicity from our foods and mind, it important we also identify and remove toxic people from our lives as well.

The world is full of kind, honest and caring people who can lift your spirits and encourage you to do your best. Unfortunately, at the same time, there are also petty people who will lie, manipulate, cheat and try to bring you down. Just as we wish to remove toxicity from our foods and mind, it important we also identify and remove toxic people from our lives as well. Identifying toxicity in others is just as important as identifying toxicity in ourselves. So, take a good look at yourself and recognize the behaviors that make you and those around you toxic. Here are a few tips to help you identify toxic people in your life:

They Find Fault in Everything

So, you are at a party and trying to have fun but your “friend” won’t stop complaining how bad the drinks are or how outdated the music is. It’s kind of hard to have a good time when somebody is always pointing out the negatives. Finding fault in everything is a common trait of a toxic person. Not only will they keep themselves from having a good time but they will also pass on that negativity to you. Stay away from such people and most importantly, do not turn into one of them.

They Are Never Happy For You

Toxic people find it difficult to be happy for others. A vacation to an exotic beach isn’t good enough for you because it’s too hot, the promotion you got is not praiseworthy enough because you are still getting paid less, and that compliment you received from a friend should not be taken too seriously because they were just being polite. Toxic people may be there for you when you are down in the dumps but the minute you start doing well, they turn their backs on you.

They Like To Gossip

One of the most common traits of toxic people is they like to gossip and talk behind other people’s backs. If they are filling you in on others’ secrets, they are probably betraying your trust as well. Avoid such people at all times as they can to cause trouble. If you have been taking interest in other people’s personal matters, now is the time to stop.

They Don’t Own Up To Their Feelings

Toxic people aren’t sincere when it comes to their feelings. At times, they may project their own negative feelings onto you. Instead of saying they have a problem with you, they will ask you “Do you have a problem with me?” This is known as projection and will often lead you to a tight spot where you will be left constantly defending your actions even though you weren’t the one in the wrong.

They Never Apologize

They will come in late, cancel plans on you and not reply to your emails but the moment they see you, they will continue to be their chirpy selves as if nothing is wrong. Real friends care about your feelings and don’t bail on you when you need them. If you cannot be there for someone, it is best you just apologize and move on.

If you are not a regular reader, you might be missing out on the countless benefits that reading offers

When was the last time you picked up a book? If all the reading you do is limited to Facebook and Twitter posts, we have a problem. If you are not a regular reader, you might be missing out on the countless benefits that reading offers. It does not mean you start reading encyclopedias. As long as you are reading something substantial, whether it is a book, an article or a blog, you are good to go. Here is a list of some of the benefits that reading can provide you:

Increased Mental Stimulation

Studies have shown reading helps keep your brain active and promotes mental stimulation. This prevents major mental diseases in the future, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Keeping your brain active, in turn, keeps it strong as well. Your brain is a muscle and it needs exercise as well, and this can happen only with cognitive stimulation, which reading offers you.

Memory Improvement

While reading a book, you need to remember the assortment of characters, their history, background and other details. Every new memory you create opens its doors to new brain pathways and strengthens existing ones. This, in turn, helps improve short-term memory and also helps stabilize mood swings, paving the way to better mental health.

Better Writing Skills

If you want to become a good writer, you need to become a good reader first. Reading helps you expand your vocabulary and generate new ideas and thoughts. If you want to become a good writer, you need substance and concrete ideas. While reading, you open yourself to new writing styles and technique. Reading helps expand your knowledge and get adept in a variety of subjects. Writers influence writers so encourage your fellow writers by reading their work. It’s a win-win situation for the both of you.

Free Entertainment

People on a limited budget do not have to spend a huge amount of money to purchase a good book. While most like to buy books, not everybody can afford that luxury. Luckily, you can always visit the local library and borrow all the books you want. All you need is a simple library card and you will be able to find tons of books on every subject imaginable. There is tons of reading material from every genre available for every age group.

You can choose from classic literature, poetry, biographies, and self-help guides, etc. Better yet, you can find a variety of books online in PDF form. If you do not have a library nearby, do not worry. You can simply download books online or find substantial articles and blogs to read on the internet.

Tranquility

Reading has a therapeutic effect that helps you feel relaxed and calm. Reading good books can bring about inner peace and tranquility. If you are not aware of the pleasures of reading a good book, you do not know what you are missing out on. Head over to a bookstore immediately and find yourself a good book to read. You will love it!

Far too often we compare ourselves to other people and not appreciate our uniqueness. Whether you are homeless and living in the streets or a king in a mansion, it is important to recognize one very important thing that you, me and everyone on this planet share in common: we are alive and there is no one in this world exactly like us. Our unique qualities, traits, characteristics define us as individuals. Your look, behavior, mannerism separates you from the person next to you. It is important to be mindful of our individuality because as we progress in life, acknowledging our uniqueness can provide inspiration when we need it most.

Realizing your existence on this planet is a necessary step to understanding your remarkability. In a world with billions of people, you are the only entity that exists. There is not another you and I think this uniqueness should be embraced and loved. When you realize that you have been given a miracle in life and that you get to shape your own destiny, it is quite a wonder.

Along with this mindset, be proud that no one can completely imitate everything about you. There is something innately special about you that only you can make happen. No one can control your actions, thoughts and the way you portray yourself or perceive others. Your thoughts and the decisions you makeare your own. You have been given the gift of free will and how you move forth with that gift is up to you. We should be lucky that we are not attached to strings like marionettes and maneuvered to do what someone else pleases. We can break those strings and move on our own because we know that no one should have the ability to determine how we live.

This mindset is helpful when you are battling loneliness and feel out of place. Learning to embrace the qualities that you have will make you happier about yourself. It can raise your self-esteem; build your confidence; and make you look more presentable when you learn to embrace your uniqueness. There will always be someone out there who will love you for whom you are and can’t imagine a life without you. The loneliness and sadness that you feel is temporary because in thinking about your existence, you realize your life truly matters.

We need to be happier with ourselves and how we live. We are constantly concerned about our appearance, status, and well being, rather than be content with what we have now. As the author of this piece, I sometimes look in the mirror and feel angry for comparing myself to others but the reality is, you should look in the mirror and see perfection and a miracle, because that is what you truly are. Learn to embrace and be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished because it will make all the difference in the life that you lead.

I find failure to be wonderful.This does not mean I welcome or ask for it, but when it does come, I say thank you for another lesson learned. Failure is a concept that many of us fear. But we shouldn’t. The fear of failure is irrational and does not do us any good to stress about it. I see failure as a way for us to educate ourselves and find ways to improve for the next stepof our life.

People often fear failure because they are hard on themselves and fear ridicule. We get self-conscious and think that if we fail, people will judge us for our inadequacy and that we become unworthy of success. First and foremost, ignore all the judgmental critics out there who question your value and your progress. Second, be proud that you took initiative on a project/task that you felt strongly about and as a result gained a learning experience and now know how to improve for the next time, if you were to attempt it again. And finally, know that you have the upper hand over your critics because you started to do something that was risky and it demonstrated that you had courage and guts.

When your project fails to take off the ground; you didn’t raise enough funds for an event; you didn’t finish the marathon because you hit a wall and got injured; these are all instances, amongst many others, that you feel constitutes yourself as a complete failure. Instead of looking at it as such, learn to recognize how you can do better next time. For example, if you hit the wall in the marathon, perhaps you can change your training habits for the next race. Or you can fundraise your event in a different manner if it didn’t get much money the first time. You’ve learned some new marketing tactics and will recognize what worked and didn’t. The whole idea is that failure teaches us lessons and the valuable part is to take these lessons and use them to your advantage for the next time.

If you have never failed in your life then I consider you to be one lucky individual. For the majority of us however, we have failed multiple times and it did not signify the end of our lives. We always find a way to get back on our two feet and learned how to bounce back. And each time we do bounce back, we gained a little bit of insight in our strengths and weaknesses and learn how to adjust our behaviors to succeed for the next time. If we never get to experience failure then it would be a travesty because we would never have these lessons taught to us and grow as an individual. Learn to savor these experiences of failure and grow from them. Do not see them as a hindrance to your life’s journey. The more you fail, the higher the chances you will succeed in your next endeavor.

Everyone you encounter in your day to day life is facing a battle of their own that you may not know about. Just like others may not know what you are internally struggling with, you do not know what the person on the opposite end is dealing with either. With all the challenges that we face in our lives, this makes it more important for us to always practice kindness and to be mindful of when someone else is in need of it.

We are all worthy of experiencing and giving kindness in our lives. It is something that needs to be shared because it will lift the spirits of others when they are in contact with it. It can turn a bad day good and in return, bring more positive energy into our world and push the negative ones out. Problem is, people tend to forget to be kind especially when they are placed in stressful circumstances.

When you are panicking or freaking out about something in your life, this is the most important time to be as mindful as possible when it comes to kindness. Learn to always be kind to others even when a mistake has been made. If you have to discipline an employee, do it in a respectable manner as opposed to a patronizing one. One should avoid being condescending, stuck-up, and insulting during these unfortunate circumstances. It can make all the difference in how your peer may see you as a supervisor, a co-worker, or even a friend. Nobody wants to hang out with someone they know will go ballistic and be rude and degrading if things do not go their way.

When you encounter strangers in the street, including the homeless and those less fortunate than you, be careful to not become judgmental of their situations. Having empathy will shape you to be a more considerate individual and will make you inclined to be kind more often.

There are different things you can do to provide kindness to others. First and foremost, you should avoid saying anything hurtful and negative to another person and always take their feelings into consideration. Second, donate your time and money to a cause that you feel strongly about. By reaching out to different organizations, you put yourself on the front line of fighting for something you care deeply about. Third, surround yourself around kind people. Being around optimistic and friendly nurturing individuals will instill the same qualities in you. Finally, do an act of kindness every so often. Pay for someone’s groceries or his or her next meal. Send a gift to a friend for no reason. All of these things can help you get in the spirit of kindness and not only will make the other person feel better, but you’ll feel happier as well.

Kindness is so often forgotten in a world that can often look scary. People from all different backgrounds clash with one another all the time. But slowly, if we all take the time to be kind and learn to respect one another, the world can gradually shape into a whole different place than it is now. Let’s start one person at a time.

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Who is Self-Starter Anh?

My name is Anh Phan and I am a self-starter and life coach. I provide the tools you need to get things done. Join my community which encourages members to support each other in a positive manner. I can help you foster happiness in your life. I am revolutionizing what it means to be productive and content with what we already have. Let me help you become a self-starter! Read more here